Making the switch to gas grilling? Opinions/advice?

BMCGear

BMCGear

Gold Member
Joined
Jan 4, 2014
Messages
6,885
I've always been a charcoal guy but I'm looking to make the switch to a gas grilling. Mainly for convenience but also because the food I typically grill cooks fairly fast and then I have this nice bed of coals that essentially gets wasted. I'd like to be able to come home, light the grill, and cook something quickly.

I'm debating now going the cheaper route to see how I like it vs buying a quality grill.

Thanks in advance!
 
Nooooo, don't do it, I made that mistake. Now we have two grills, his and hers. Hers (gas) for grilling (vegetables and shrimp) , mine (charcoal) for meat. I added a fan blower to mine years ago. Make lightning and a proper bed of coals a 5 min process.
 
While I'm a big wood fire smoker guy, I also use a gas grill for the convenience factor. While it doesn't quite live up to a good coal fire, it still does a great job on grilled meats. I can run outside, turn on the grill and in 10 minutes, I'm cooking. I've had what seems like a million gas grills over the years and finally invested in a large Weber Summit Series grill. It's not cheap but is 7 years old now and I've only had to replace one handle light and clean it about 2 times a year. The stainless grills, burners, and heat deflectors are still in great shape. And I live in Seattle!

That being said, I still bring out the old Weber charcoal grill from time to time.
 
Stainless steel is your friend, but cast iron grills are best. They get better as they age, and after curing, and provided you take proper care of them, nothing will stick to them. Ceramic coated ones chip and break, and stainless have a bad habit of sticking to your food.
Also, ignore those temperature gauges on the grill hood. They are never right, and the only value they offer it they show that it's getting warmer under the hood.
 
Go for it. I've got a Weber Genesis. I went through 3 cheap ones in about 10 years. I've had the Genesis for about 5 years and it works like brand new. Of course, it was 3-4 as expensive so it should be.

I also have a Weber Charcoal grill that is great but you can't beat the convenience factor with gas. I get home from work, turn on the grill, go feed my dog, change clothes, etc. and 10 minutes later its at over 600 and ready to go. I have my gas grill on my porch and grill all winter. I wouldn't try that with charcoal. I also find it much easier to regulate temp with the gas grill.

I will say that if you want to do charcoal, do charcoal. The whole process is interesting from choosing the charcoal, the wood, the ignition system, regulating the heat etc. I will also say that don't let people talk you out of using a gas grill if you want to use one.
 
In my experience you will pay about $75 a year for a gas grill wether you buy the $150 or the $800 model. The best after grill purchase I've ever made was a set or GrillGrates.
 
I am a charcoal guy ... and 95% of my grilling is that or in a big cooker with charcoal/wood ...

but I did buy a has grill for ease and quick meals if I have unexpected company ... and they are handy for those situations ... but I could never go strictly gas ... I do occasionally add a small metal can with wood chips to add smoke and flavor.
 
No advice from me on the gas grill because I'm a charcoal/wood guy. I will say that I don't find charcoal inconvenient aside from the ash. I get the chimney started when I get home. By the time I go inside to get the food prepped and all the other utensils, pans, etc that I need, it's ready to go. If I'm cooking something quick I just shut all the vents when done to put the fire out and reuse what's left the next time.

I will admit that having a side burner on a gas grill is probably pretty handy. It would be nice to cook up a side dish or sauce without having to go back and forth between the kitchen and the grill.
 
dannyp said:
No advice from me on the gas grill because I'm a charcoal/wood guy. I will say that I don't find charcoal inconvenient aside from the ash. I get the chimney started when I get home. By the time I go inside to get the food prepped and all the other utensils, pans, etc that I need, it's ready to go. If I'm cooking something quick I just shut all the vents when done to put the fire out and reuse what's left the next time.

I will admit that having a side burner on a gas grill is probably pretty handy. It would be nice to cook up a side dish or sauce without having to go back and forth between the kitchen and the grill.
Click to expand...

I don't use the side burner too often but I feel like I'd miss it the few times I do need it. I like it for deep frying in my old cast iron chicken fryer so I don't get oil spatters all over the kitchen. Its also handy to have so you can leave brats, etc., simmering after cooking them.
 
I will add that one of the reasons that I'd be getting this is for vegetables. We don't cook meat these days and charcoal is a mild inconvenience for vegetables. They cook fairly fast and then you have a waited bed of coals.
 
I much prefer charcoal grilling on many fronts, but I'm almost ashamed to admit when it comes down to it I cook 90% of the food on my gas grill. It's just so much more convenient. Whenever I'm having a BBQ with a lot of people and a lot of meat I'll use my charcoal grill.
 
linuxology said:
Gas is great for grilling veggies. Would recommend a Weber.
Click to expand...

I've had great luck out of my Weber charcoal grill. It seems with gas grills you either buy something cheap to throw away or invest in something you can get parts for.
 
My Weber gas grill is getting close to 20 years old, had to change the V bars twice, but the burners are original and still provide even heat!
 
3 words, Big Green Egg (I have 2). I cooked 4 chicken thighs tonight and when I was done, I sealed it up and the charcoal goes out. Add a bit more charcoal and relight it next time I want to grill. #1 best feature.

#2 it's ceramic, so no rust or wear out items. Grabbed an ash vacuum and vacuum the bottom where ash collects maybe every other month.

#3 GETS HOT. Can crank it (open air vents) to 800 to sear steaks then shut it down for that perfect medium rare.

#4-?? Can be used as smoker, chicken roaster, pizza maker, blah blah blah.

Maintenance is vacuuming ash, replacing gasket every 18 months and a high heat burn (1000 deg) before gasket replacement. Plus a drop of oil on hinges every spring before grilling season (really year round at this point).
 
McFeeli said:
I much prefer charcoal grilling on many fronts, but I'm almost ashamed to admit when it comes down to it I cook 90% of the food on my gas grill. It's just so much more convenient. Whenever I'm having a BBQ with a lot of people and a lot of meat I'll use my charcoal grill.
Click to expand...
That is essentially what it has boiled down to for me as well. In the winter, it's hard to get charcoal hot enough sometimes. Gas grill time... turn it on and cook away. My suggestion to the OP is that you get an inexpensive gas grill that is big enough to be useful, but not one of these $400 beasts.... (for now). Use it. If you like, get the beastly gas grill later when they go on sale usually in the early winter.
 
One of the things I have done with a small gas grill is buy one that you can take on picnics (state park kind of thing) that allows you to set up on a picnic table to cook or heat stuff up. Sometimes all the spots are taken up with the cooking grills (for fires) at parks. I enjoy building a fire while picnicing or perhaps car camping, but it is not a have to kind of thing once you are willing to carry the smaller gas grill with you for these gatherings. I went with a larger one later for the deck/home use (but not the real expensive ones). I wan't sure I would like grilling with gas. There is only two of us and the small one works at home too. I am just not fond of the small gas canisters, but they're okay.
 
22-rimfire said:
One of the things I have done with a small gas grill is buy one that you can take on picnics (state park kind of thing) that allows you to set up on a picnic table to cook or heat stuff up. Sometimes all the spots are taken up with the cooking grills (for fires) at parks. I enjoy building a fire while picnicing or perhaps car camping, but it is not a have to kind of thing once you are willing to carry the smaller gas grill with you for these gatherings. I went with a larger one later for the deck/home use (but not the real expensive ones). I wan't sure I would like grilling with gas. There is only two of us and the small one works at home too. I am just not fond of the small gas canisters, but they're okay.
Click to expand...

Weber makes a small portable grill with a gas converter that I'm very interested in.
 
I kinda love the gas vs. charcoal debate because there isn't really a wrong answer. Gas gets you convenience, the ability (at least in my case) to grill all year around on a covered (not enclosed) porch and great food. Last summer I had a cookout and people showed up late; I just cranked up the gas grill again and 5 minutes was cooking again.

Charcoal is a little more work but gives you more options (different hardwoods, briquettes), may be more rewarding and also great food. I think its harder but I don't use it enough to get really good at it.

Generally speaking, charcoal grills are cheaper than gas grills, although you can spend a little or a lot on either. Propane is generally cheaper over the long run than charcoal, but the price is not really an issue.

I have never eaten charcoal cooked food back to back with gas grilled food. I do know that when I do my part with either the food is great. Maybe what I will do this summer is a side by side test. Now that's a great idea.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top